Nonchalant Roddy

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 7

Nonchalant Roddy

He accepted the invitation with every outward semblance of perfect composure,

Quite a good-looking young- man. with that wavy touch m his brown hair adored lay the feminine of the species, and with a nonchalant smile decorating a very expressive mouth, Roderick Gore-Edwards' demeanor was one of "sans peur et sans reproche," which, translated into the vernacular, means: "You've got nothing on me, boy. I'm not the party." He simply scorned the name set out m the papers — "Richard Edwards," as being the N one his fond parents had bestowed upon him m his squalling infancy. 'He "would certainly answer to Roderick Willoughby Gore-Edwards — and said so m a voice that had obviously undergone a course of intense culture at "Oxford, Old Elk."

Yes, there was a hyphen m his name, and, touching on this annoying tangle m nomenclature, Roddy declared with a disarming smile: "People might call me Charles Peace or Crippen for that matter, but I will not accept Richard Edwards. My name is Roderick," etc., etc.

Hamilton had been his headquarters as a salesman for various firms.

Roderick was most emphatic about the private sleuth, Jackson. "Not to my knowledge have I ever seen the individual m my life who described me m the witness-box," he told the court m a tone which .contained a hint that for ever afterwards Frederick Jackson, inquiry merchant, might consider himself a very presumptious fellow indeed.

Roger was, he asserted, not m Auckland on December 19, the' day on which, it was alleged, he had been served with the papers. ,

He. could safely say he was either m Hamilton or Te Aroha, adding: "But I just may have been at Paeroa."

Heotendered a copy of his discharge certificate from the Canadian forces as a means of establishing his identity, stating that he had come to New Zealand from Australia two years ago as a member of the crew of the "AngloIndian."

With the smile of one clubman to another, Roderick told Judge" Blair that he had left the ship on arrival m New Zealand.

The scrap of paper was replaced m Roddy's pocket and he settled himself m readiness for cross-examination.

The question as to where he had been during the two years of his residence m the Dominion came up for discussion, Judge Blair interrupting to ask that the discharge certificate be again